PV Sindhu criticises Asian Games scheduling after playing three singles matches in 24 hours
PV Sindhu played three singles matches in 24 hours at the Asian Games, beginning with her second match on Saturday at 12:07 am on Sunday and returning for her quarter-final against Chen Yufei around 1 pm later that day. Sindhu lost 21-11, 18-21, 10-21 and criticised the tournament schedule after India's campaign in individual events ended.
Sindhu's third-round victory over world No. 7 Tomoka Miyazaki finished as late as 1:30 am local time on Sunday, and she returned to the court for the quarter-final less than 12 hours later. The organiser's decision meant all singles players played two matches on Saturday, an arrangement described in the report as unprecedented. Sindhu appeared to tire as the three-game quarter-final with Chinese fourth seed Chen Yufei progressed.
Asked if she had ever played two matches at a major championship before, Sindhu said: "Not really, because the scheduling was not really well organised is what I feel," Sindhu said, according to PTI after India's campaign in individual events ended. "We literally slept really late and then coming back in the morning (on Sunday), playing two matches in a day. Recovery is the most important priority."
On the subject of recovery, Sindhu said: "It's more than mentally preparing, you need to recover. Even though you think you are doing good, physically you might not be able to go there or you might not be able to play." She added: "When there are long rallies, definitely yes, recovery. When you had a good thing, you would automatically (go) but your legs don't move." "But I think apart from that it was a good game overall but it's just that the scheduling should have been a bit better."
Sindhu also raised concerns about the absence of video review on her quarter-final court. "There were no cameras here. That was really sad. I felt that 2-3 shots were on the line. In the quarter-finals in the Asian Games, there should have been a camera is what I feel. Because these are the crucial matches." She explained the competitive impact of not having challenges available: "If you get that point, it is good. You have upper hand. You are playing with the cameras, playing with reviews. "We can challenge it or if that's your point, you have a one point advantage. Sometimes an opponent is not able to move and the shuttle falls there and the line judge gives out. And you challenge, you get a point. "So it's an advantage in a way. In the second game, I felt 2-3 shots were clear. But the line judge, you can't do anything about it."
Unnati Hooda, who lost a three-game quarter-final to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, said: "I will not blame my loss (in quarterfinals) to that but the scheduling could have been managed better," she said, according to PTI. HS Prannoy outlined additional logistical problems, saying the team-event medal ceremony ended around 11:15 pm, leaving athletes to travel for an hour, eat only around 12:30 or 1 am and, in some cases, return to the court at 9 am the next morning. He also questioned why the badminton competition could not be extended by a day when the Asian Games continued until October 4.
When the badminton competition ended on Sunday, India were left without an individual medal at the Asian Games for the first time in 12 years. The men's team bronze remained the country won in Aichi-Nagoya.
